Djokovic wants to return to Australia, de Minaur hits back at fake vaccination report
Unvaccinated tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has declared he wants to return to the Australian Open in future despite his pre-tournament deportation, as Australian star Alex de Minaur hit back at reports he was allegedly being investigated for buying a falsified COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
In an extensive interview with Serbian national television RTS, Djokovic said previous success at the Australian Open fuelled his desire to return, despite the legal storm which resulted in his deportation, after his visa was cancelled twice by the federal government, and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke exercised his ministerial power in the case.
Novak Djokovic is returning to tennis in Dubai after his dramatic deportation before the Australian Open.Credit:AP
The minister would need to give Djokovic a dispensation to return to the Australian Open in the future after the visa cancellation. Djokovic on Thursday received a warm welcome in Dubai, where he visited the world’s fair following the global drama around his decision to remain unvaccinated, ahead of returning to competition in the Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“I want to come back to Australia in the future and to play on Rod Laver Arena again,” Djokovic said in the hour-long television interview.
“A lot of professional and personal beautiful things happened to me there. Despite all this, I have a great connection with Australia.
“Nothing in life is guaranteed, but I did like my chances at Australian Open this year. I feel like I’m in my backyard on Rod Laver Arena. Out of respect to Rafael Nadal who won and to all the players, I don’t dare to say that I would’ve won, but I think I had a good chance.”
The federal government revoked Djokovic’s visa twice after he was initially allowed to arrive in Melbourne to compete, despite his vaccination status. Djokovic has said his original plan was to miss the Australia Open, but he changed his mind after learning about a possible exemption from Australia’s COVID-19 rules.
“All that happened was completely unexpected,” the nine-time Australian Open winner said. “And of course it’s difficult to forget but I do want to return to Australia in the future.”
Djokovic admitted that his decision to attend an interview with L’Equipe while COVID positive was selfish, and brushed off the moniker of “Novax” which has been applied to the star because of his unvaccinated status.
“I admit that it was selfish what I’ve done by attending the interview with L’Equipe. My mistake which I own. I understand that not all people will forgive me and I understand the critics,” he said.
“I’ve been called various different names throughout my career. There are always those who support you and others who don’t. That’s all I can say.”
Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur.Credit:AP
Australia’s de Minaur was alleged in Spanish media reports to have bought a falsified certificate to prove he had taken two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine, but the 23-year-old released a statement saying he is “100% clear” he has taken two shots.
“I received my first dose of the vaccine in London last summer and the second one at the Hospital La Paz in Madrid,” De Minaur wrote on Twitter and Instagram.
“News came out today that the hospital is under investigation for providing falsified COVID certificates to some of its patients. I want to make it 100% clear that I received my second shot, that I have a completely valid, accurate and true vaccination record.
“I am not “under investigation” in any way as is being suggested and my name is connected to this story simply because I was a patient at the hospital (as many thousands of others were).”
The ATP Tour’s rule book states submitting a falsified COVID-19 vaccination record amounts to a violation of its code and is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and/or suspension from its tournaments for a period of up to three years.
Djokovic’s future in the grand slam events, and on tour, remains clouded as different jurisdictions have different vaccination requirements. Wimbledon is unlikely to ban him from defending his title, as Britain allows unvaccinated people to enter, although they are subjected to isolation and testing restrictions that do not apply to vaccinated travellers. It does not have vaccine mandates.
Djokovic reiterated that his participation in other tournaments, including the French Open, depends on health restrictions set by hosts as he maintains his refusal to get a COVID-19 shot.
“I’m keeping an open mind,” Djokovic said. “For now, I have decided not to do that and I have to bear all the consequences,” he said.
“I choose to focus on things I’ve already achieved and to be grateful for it. I don’t know what the future brings, I hope for the best and I feel that I still have time.
“As an elite athlete, I want to triple check everything that enters my body. If something changes for 0.5% in my body, I feel it. I am just cautious before making any decisions. I will live with the consequences [of not being vaccinated].”
Djokovic said he had received private support and messages from a number of players, including Australia’s Nick Kyrgios who, having been a long-time critic of Djokovic, had been vocal in his support for him ahead of the Australian Open.
“Kyrgios surprised me pleasantly, I thanked him and all the others who stood up for me, Alize Cornet for instance. I received a lot of messages privately from some of the players, but they didn’t want to speak publicly. I understand it, the situation was complicated.”
Djokovic said he was fired up for his return to the court in Dubai. The government of Dubai does not require visitors to be vaccinated to enter. The men’s tennis tour event begins next week.
“There’s an additional motivation, for sure, that I play better than ever,” Djokovic, the world’s No. 1-ranked men’s player, told RTS. He said, “it’s certain” that the standoff with Australia will “influence my return in Dubai”.
Reuters, AP, Bloomberg, Staff writers
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